Hemerocallis plant named ‘Southern Sparkle’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hemerocallis named ‘Southern Sparkle’ characterized by its pastel yellow flowers with a contrasting red eye-zone which are borne on tall branched scapes. The flowers do not fade in warm, bright conditions and are resistant to water spotting. Plants of ‘Southern Sparkle’ bloom early in the season, and then repeatedly through out the growing season. Plants of ‘Southern Sparkle’ are evergreen, thus they are attractive in landscapes. The plant grows vigorously, and propagates easily by division or tissue culture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHemerocallis plant, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name‘Southern Sparkle’. The genus Hemerocallis is a member of the familyLiliaceae.

Hemerocallis comprises a genus of approximately 15 species ofclump-forming herbaceous perennials which are native to central Europe,China and particularly Japan. The flowers of Hemerocallis are lily-likeand are borne in succession atop tall, frequently branched scapes.Individual flowers last one day, this Hemerocallis are commonly known as‘Daylily’ in the commercial trade.

In recent years Hemerocallis has been extensively hybridized, and manynamed cultivars exist. Hemerocallis hybrids are hardy spring and summerblooming plants which are particularly well adapted to landscapeplantings. The plants form clumps of fan-shaped crowns of verticallyranked, keeled, strap-like leaves. Plants (individual crowns) range insize from approximately 20 cm to over 90 cm in spread. Depending uponthe parentage, Hemerocallis hybrids may be deciduous, evergreen orsemi-evergreen.

Hemerocallis hybrids come in a range of colors including, orange,yellow, pink, reddish, or purplish. The flowers are funnel-shaped orcampanulate with six segments joined at the base into a tube.

Asexual propagation of Hemerocallis is frequently done by division.Propagation can also be done through the use of tissue culturepractices.

The new cultivar ‘Southern Sparkle’ is a product of a planned breedingprogram and was originated by the inventor Matthew Kaskel from a crossmade during such a program in Homestead, Fla. in April, 1994. The parentplants were each seedlings of Hemerocallis×hybrid. Neither parent ispatented. The male and female parents were proprietory Hemerocallisselections. The selection comprising the new variety was chosen aftercommencement of flowering of the progeny in April of 1995 and wasoriginally identified by the number code #95-23. After more thoroughcommercial evaluation, the cultivar was given the name ‘SouthernSparkle’.

Asexual reproduction by tissue culture of the new cultivar by theinventor in the laboratories of Twyford Plant Laboratories, Inc., inHomestead, Fla., has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar ‘SouthernSparkle’ are firmly fixed, reproduces true to type, and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographic illustrations show typicalcharacteristics of Hemerocallis ‘Southern Sparkle,’ with colors being asnearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 shows a 10-month-old plant of ‘Southern Sparkle’ grown fromtissue culture and flowering in a 15 cm pot.

Sheet 2 is a close-up view showing the characteristics of the flowersand scape.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Apopka, Fla., under field conditions which closely approximatethose generally used in horticultural practice. Color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, exceptwhere general terms of ordinary significance are used.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Southern Sparkle’ which in combinationdistinguish this Hemerocallis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flowers are pastel yellow with a red eye-zone.

2. Flowers do not fade in warm, bright conditions and are resistant towater spotting.

3. Individual scapes are tall and branched with many buds which open insuccession for approximately 4 weeks. Subsequent scapes develop quicklyafter the initial scapes flower out.

4. Spent flowers of ‘Southern Sparkle’ shrivel, become inconspicuous,drop from the scape quickly, and do not interfere with the opening ofsubsequent flowers.

5. Plants of ‘Southern Sparkle’ begin blooming very early in the season(April), and rebloom throughout a 90-day bloom season.

6. Plants of ‘Southern Sparkle’ are growing vigorously and propagatereadily by division and tissue culture.

7. Plants of ‘Southern Sparkle’ have narrow evergreen foliage makingthem attractive in landscapes even when not in bloom.

The petal colors and eyezone colors are more intense in ‘SouthernSparkle’ than in either of the two parents. Additionally, ‘SouthernSparkle’ is more floriferous and more highly recurrent than either ofthe two parents.

‘Southern Sparkle’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,day-length and humidity, without, any change in genotype. The plantswere 10 months old when described, and derived from a tissue cultureplantlet.

CLASSIFICATION

Commerical: Hemeorcallis cv. ‘First Spring’.

Parentage:

Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Hemerocallis.

Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Hemerocallis.

Genus/species: Hemerocallis×hybrid.

Propagation: Vegetative, by tissue culture.

Plant:

Form/growth habit.—Clump-forming; Fan-shaped crowns of verticallyranked, opposite, smooth, keeled, ligulate leaves.

Height.—Approximately 50 cm to 60 cm including inflorescence.

Width.—Approximately 45 cm to 60 cm.

Foliage:

Size.—The mature leaves are approximately 45 cm to 55 cm long, and 1.8to 2.2 cm wide (flattened for measurement).

Shape.—The leaf blade is ligulate with an acute tip. The margins areentire. The leaves are curved over their length. The leaf is keeled, andarched downward.

Surface texture.—The leaf blade is thin, with a smooth surface.

Color.—The leaves are medium green throughout. The upper surfaces aregreener than, but closest to 137 A, and lower surfaces are between 137 Aand 137 B. The margins of the leaf bases may be flushed and striatedwith 184 D.

Average number.—Plant produces approximately 6 pairs of leaves beforeproducing an inflorescence.

Dormancy.—Plants of ‘Southern Sparkle’ are evergreen, and require nodormant period. If grown in appropriate conditions, plants of ‘SouthernSparkle’ are capable of growing year round. If grown in locations withfreezing winter conditions, plants of ‘Southern Sparkle’ will becomedormant and loose their leaves.

Inflorescence:

Borne.—Flowers borne in succession, with new buds opening daily, atop a3 or 4 branched scape. Scapes may produce approximately 12-20 buds, witheach branch having 3-4 buds each.

Shape.—The inflorescence is an upright terminally branched determinantpanicle.

Buds.—Dimensions: Approximately 6.8 cm long and 1.90 cm in width. Color:Yellow orange between RHS 22 C and RHS 22 D, striated with between RHS146 C and RHS 146 D with green 146 B sepal tips.

Individual flowers.—Dimension: The diameter of the flower isapproximately 9.0 cm to 10.1 cm (not flattened). The depth of the floweris between 5.5 cm and 6 cm. The sepals and petals are reflexed outward.There are three sepals and three petals, with cuspidate apex. The sepalsare approximately 7.3 cm long 3.3 cm wide, and are ovate in shape. Thepetals are approximately 7.0 cm long, 4.9 cm wide, and are obovate inshape. Individual flower parts flattened for measurement. Shape:Funnel-form to campanulate, segments ovate or obovate and moderatelyreflexed. Petals ruffled along the margins. Sepals wavy along themargins.

Colors.—Upper Surface: Sepals have three distinct zones of color:Yellow-orange 18 A, tinged with 178 D (eye zone). Base of sepal (throat)145 A. Petals have three distinct zones of color: Yellow-orange 18 A,and between RHS 178 A and RHS B (eye zone). Base of petals (Throat): 145A. Lower-Surface: Sepals yellow-orange 18 A, striated with 145 A. Baseof Sepal: 145 A. Tip of sepal 145 A. Petals yellow-orange between RHS 16B and RHS 16 C. Base of petals: 145 A.

Texture.—Moderately thick, leathery texture.

Quantity.—Approximately 12-20 flowers/buds present depending on the sizeof plant and inflorescence. Branch spikes contain approximately 3 to 4flowers/buds.

Senescent flower.—Spent flowers collapse and shrivel, becominginconspicuous, eventually falling from the scape in 1 or 2 days.

Scape.—The scape is approximately 50 cm to 60 cm in height, and 8 mm indiameter measured at midpoint and darker than, but closest to 137 B incolor.

Bracts.—Small leaf-like bracts are present at the junctions of thebranches and the scape and the flower buds and the scape. The bracts arevariable in size, 2.5 cm to 11 cm long and are between RHS 137 B and RHS137 C in color on both surfaces of the bracts.

Time of blooming.—In mature plants, flowering begins approximately veryearly season (March 15 as observed in Apopka, Fla.).

Duration of blooms.—Individual flowers last 1 day, and the totalduration of flowering is about 90 days with subsequent scapes appearingthrough out the growing season.

Fragrance.—Slight.

Reproductive organs:

Ovary.—Superior oblong, 9 mm in length, 5 mm wide. Color: between RHS146 B and RHS 146 C.

Pistil.—One pistil per flower. 8.9 cm long, style 2.0 mm wide. Color:yellow between RHS 10 B and RHS 10 C tinged with 146 D at base.

Stamens.—Six present, Filament 4.9 cm long, flat curved 2 mm wide,yellow 10 B tinged with 146 D at base.

Anthers.—8 mm long, brown-black, closest to RHS 200A.

Pollen.—21 A.

Fruit: A three valved, loculicidal capsule 2.4 cm wide, and 3 cm inheight. Color varies between RHS 137 B and RHS 137 C, becoming tingedwith yellow RHS 20 C when ripe. Each chamber contains approximately 3 to6 seeds, 4 mm to 7 mm and mostly round, but often oblong.

Seed characteristics: Capable of producing viable seed.

Roots: Very thick fleshy white roots with fine laterals.

Cultural:

USDA zone.—Grows and blooms best when grown in USDA Zones 6 to 11.

Diseases/pests.—No particular sensitivity to pests or diseases has beenobserved. Aphids may infest plants during the winter months.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hemerocallis plant named‘Southern Sparkle’